The Attempted Un-Coupling of Zionism from Judaism

I have been so distraught over educated, connected Jews (like rabbis and educators and Mandy Patinkin) calling for unilateral ceasefire, using words like “genocide” and similar (all against Israel).

1/ Zionism began in 586 BCE. Read Psalm 137 for documentation on such. We (global Jewry) are known biblically as B’nei Yisrael (and the Quran even calls us this 20+ times). More modern (although also long history) is us being called K’lal Yisrael and Am Yisrael. Our central prayer – Shema – is specifically about being a part of this.

• I saw one stat list that says:
  • Israel is mentioned over 2,500 times.
  • Zion is mentioned in the Tanakh at least 150 times.
  • Jerusalem is mentioned 669 times.

2/ As such, Zionism a a central Jewish value. However, just like with other core Jewish values, people pick and choose. In some cases (like kashrut) our community has come to accept that as a relatively neutral choice. However, there are other core Jewish values (like taking care of the stranger among us, not murdering, not accepting another god) that when a member of our community outwardly rejects this value and acts on that rejection, the rest of the mainstream community looks down on them, may start to exclude them in some ways, removes them from the “mensch” list, etc. Zionism falls into the latter category. And in fact, Natan Sharansky refers to antiZionist Jews as “un-Jews.” The linked article is three years old but more relevant than ever.

3/ I want to ask these folks: are you sure you are an antiZionist? Do you reject that the State of Israel has a right to exist, in HaEretz, for the purpose of providing a safe haven for Jews on our ancestral land? Or do you just have contention (as many of us do) with how many things have been handled the last 76 years? And if it’s the latter, you aren’t antiZionist and may need the option to connect with more like-minded people who want an amazing Israel in which all peoples have equality, dignity and freedom. Reach out to me and I can point you to them.

You don’t want to be a Zionist, your choice (just like your choice to not keep kosher) but you don’t go out proselytizing folks to eat pork, so stop taking to the streets and social media to try and stop folks from being Zionist! Stop giving credence to the JewHaters who use this b.s. line of thinking to justify their behaviors.